Chapter 25– The Royal ball

The ballroom shimmered under the glow of a thousand golden chandeliers, casting long, elegant shadows across the polished marble floor. Seraphina stood at the entrance, her golden gown flowing like liquid sunlight, yet her partner—the very man who had sent her this dress—was nowhere to be seen. Instead, as she lingered near the edge of the festivities, her gaze flickered across the grand hall, where the male leads stood, draped in their own regal magnificence.

Caius, in a deep crimson military uniform, exuded raw power and command; Elias, in his pristine white priestly robes embroidered with violet threads, was the picture of sinful grace; and the Duke, in his midnight blue attire, looked effortlessly composed, his sharp blue eyes cutting through the room.

She could feel their gazes land on her—intense, assessing, lingering. And yet, the one person she truly needed to see tonight, Valen, was missing.

Seraphina's brows furrowed. Where was the mage? She needed to speak to him about the ore, and his absence unsettled her. Just as she was about to make her way toward the trio, the weight of another gaze sent shivers down her spine.

As Seraphina weaved through the grand ballroom, her sights set on Aldric, a familiar chime echoed in her mind.

[System Notification]

Event Triggered: The Crown Ball – An Unforeseen Turn

Your proximity to the Crown Prince has activated a hidden encounter.

Warning: Unknown variables detected. Proceed with caution.

Her step faltered for a split second. A hidden encounter? She hadn't expected the system to interfere so soon, but there was no time to dwell on it. She needed to reach Aldric.

From the corner of her eye, she spotted him—Aldric Valmond, the Golden Sovereign, the Crown Prince himself. He stood near the grand staircase, draped in opulence and authority, his sapphire-blue eyes gleaming like liquid fire beneath the glow of the chandeliers. The tailored embroidery of his white and gold coat, threaded with delicate yet commanding patterns, seemed designed for a king rather than a prince. His golden hair was perfectly styled, framing a face carved with the precision of a master sculptor—high cheekbones, a sharp jawline, and lips that curved into the faintest, most knowing smirk.

Unlike the others, Aldric did not seek attention; attention sought him. He did not need to command the room—it bent to him effortlessly. And now, his gaze was wholly, singularly, fixated on her.

Seraphina exhaled slowly, resisting the strange pull that his presence always had. Yet, as if drawn by some unseen force, she took a step forward, weaving through the crowd, her focus set solely on him. Just as she neared, just as she was about to close the distance—

He disappeared.

Seraphina was running through the castle halls, her breath quickened as she chased after the Crown Prince, his golden silhouette just barely slipping past the corner—

System Update]

New Route Unlocked: ???

Initiating Sequence…

A sudden rush of air.

A hand shot out from the shadows.

Before she could react, she was yanked forcefully to the side, a firm grip locking around her wrist. Her back hit the cold surface of a wooden door as it slammed shut behind her. Seraphina barely had a moment to catch her breath before she felt the weight of a body pressing her into the wall, a strong hand pinning her wrist above her head. Her heart hammered against her ribs as she lifted her gaze—

And froze.

The man pinning her down was —